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10-18-2007, 03:23 PM
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#1
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 774
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30 Days of Night Vampires are Scary Predators
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What comes to mind when someone says “Vampire”?
Throughout the world there have been all sorts of undead that feed off the blood of the living. Most vampires are not some romantic version of the undead a la Brad Pitt, Frank Langella, Bela Lugosi or even Kate Beckinsale. Vampires have become docile and over-eroticized in the past twenty years with books from Anne Rice and Laurell K. Hamilton. Don’t get me wrong I love the humanization of the vampire and the sexual vampire has something because I think every single person deep down inside of them wishes they could give themselves to a lover forever. (Who could ever forget the 80’s The Hunger.) But in the last twenty years vampire movies, books and storylines have not grabbed me by the throat. (I know bad joke.) Classics like 1922’s Nosferatu where something that was not human was on the screen. Truly undead. Is there any hope for Hollywood’s version of the bloodsucking undead? I think there is and that hope comes in the form of a story that started as a comic book that came out in 2002 from IDW and the minds of Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith called 30 Days of Night.
Wish to know what it is to see vampires at their rawest form of true predator of the food chain? Then I suggest you pick up a copy of Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith’s 30 Days of Night. This award-nominated comic book/graphic novel not only captured the intensity of the undead as something not to be admired, but feared for what they are - killers of humans. Steve Niles is also one of the unique people in the comic/entertainment industry; he not only reinvented the horror genre of the old EC days before the comic codes ruined comics till the 1980's, but, literally bringing horror comics back from the dead. (Darn my bad jokes), Niles opened the minds of the public to the idea that vampires are not cute and lovable a la Anne Rice and Bram Stoker's. He proved that they are what they are Top Predatory beings. (Truly belonging to the night.) Like Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller and Alan Moore, he loves what he does and holds his storyline up for the world to see.
30 Days of Night is a story of what happens when a gang of vampires decide to go for a road trip to the one place they can truly enjoy. A small Alaskan village called Barrow, where it is truly night for long periods. And what do vampires do on a vacation? They eat like people when they go on a vacation or a cruise and with no fear of a diet. The anti-hero in this story is Sheriff Eben Olemaun and his Deputy/wife Stella. They are the last line of defense for the survivors of Barrow. The people are also just trying to survive on wits and survival instincts. The writing and the artwork in this comic/graphic novel is to be admired. Sort of water color pencil scratches that make you take note of how harsh the story really is. These vampires are filled with razor sharp teeth that not only pierce the skin but rip flesh from any portion of your body. As a reader you get the feeling of a watching an animal eating. No fine finesse of a dribble of blood from a fang. But an all out blood fest. Won’t tell you too much more except there is a subplot that links these new vampires to New Orleans. (A city infested by vampires?)
But since the inception of this book into our culture, it has even crossed the lines of entertainment. I am happy to say that 30 Days of Night is about to hit the big screen. With this movie being Directed by David Slade (Hard Candy) and produced by Sam Raimi (Evil Dead series and that Spiderman series), it should at least be a thrill ride. The movie Stars Josh Harnett as Sheriff Oleson (Notice the change of name here since I do not think Josh can pass for a native Inuit from Alaska.) I have to admit that, although I am also critical of his acting skills in his earlier films, there are a couple of movies that I truly liked Josh Hartnett in. In Sin City as The Hitman and in Lucky Number Slevin, he is coming into his own.
These are two items which will keep me happy until I see the movie. The interactive website and a little item called Fearnet on demand. The 30 Days of Night website will not only get you into the mood for this upcoming movie with downloads and an interactive game and bios of the director, actors and producers, but, as with all good movie webpages, it has great promotions and giveaways.
The interactive game on the website is something to play if you have the proper flash loaded on your computer. This game is about you being the sheriff and armed with only a shotgun you must kill as many of the new version vampires with the razor teeth as possible before they tear you apart. I have to admit over all I did okay with the game until they started assaulting me with seven vampires at a time. Remember if you play the game to always reload as soon as you can. Or you can become a bloody wet spot on the screen like I did.
Fearnet.com and Fearnet on Demand on your cable have something that will help you get prepared for 30 Days of Night. They have a short movie series called Blood Trails based on the New Orleans vampire hunter from 30 Days of Night I highly recommend this little series to get you ready for the movie. Not only did they perk my interest to the story line of the movie to come. But it answered some questions I had about the graphic novel.
I also am unhappy to admit it, but I will not be able to see the movie until Oct 19th like the rest of you. But I will be sending my review of it in as soon as I do.
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10-18-2007, 03:46 PM
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#2
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Down the Rabbit Hole
Posts: 1,724
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I'm really interested in seeing this. I've gotten tired of the romantic, wangsting (a.k.a. Whining like a *****) vampire we've seen so much of.
I want to see them act like predators damn it!
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10-18-2007, 06:55 PM
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#3
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 390
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Yey, I'm seeing it Saturday!
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10-22-2007, 12:25 AM
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#4
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Bard College
Posts: 256
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This is an excellent film, in my opinion, and one of the few I've seen as of late that actually mastered the art of suspense, rather than copping out with cheap horror techniques.
The portrayal of vampires is both fresh and terrifying...I liked it very much indeed...
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10-22-2007, 03:47 AM
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#5
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 390
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There is definitely something feral about the way the vampires are portrayed in 30 Days. These aren't romantic Anne Rice or relatives of Bela Lugosi characters we're seeing. This was a whole new level of terror and cunning.
I do liken them to wolves in a major way. They travel in packs, move through the darkness with scary quickness, and even have a set of rules when one of their own is injured. It's almost as though Steve Niles had written about werewolves than vampires.
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10-22-2007, 07:15 AM
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#6
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 601
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lapin
I'm really interested in seeing this. I've gotten tired of the romantic, wangsting (a.k.a. Whining like a *****) vampire we've seen so much of.
I want to see them act like predators damn it!
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Couldn't have said it better myself.
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10-22-2007, 02:26 PM
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#7
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,041
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YAYYY a vampire movie that seems decent!!!!!!
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10-22-2007, 03:54 PM
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#8
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 68
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I want to see it but my friend said it was horrible...
FearNet made it look so awesome though..lol.
*ponders*
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10-22-2007, 04:58 PM
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#9
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Camden, london, uk...
Posts: 552
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I Think Vampires have been overused.
They seem to have lost all of their originality.
I need some white trousers so can look like alex de large.
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10-22-2007, 06:08 PM
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#10
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Down the Rabbit Hole
Posts: 1,724
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Harley, out of my adoration for your snarky and annoying self, I forbid you to wear white trousers. You will look like a prat.
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10-22-2007, 06:41 PM
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#11
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Canada, BC
Posts: 1,949
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I'm planning to see it as soon as I can! I've been waiting for it to come out.
__________________
Better to be strong than pretty and useless
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10-24-2007, 02:44 AM
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#12
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: In AL, which sucks
Posts: 500
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Saw it last night and was really impressed on their take on the vampire genre. It's been a long time since a decent, watchable vampire movie has been out. Who would think of setting a vamp movie in Alaska? Brilliant!! Highly suggest you all go see it, or at least download it on the computer!!
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10-24-2007, 11:43 AM
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#13
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 360
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30 Days of Night was a total disappointment, at least for me. There are a few good gorish scenes that gore fans will seem to appreciate, but overall, not the great movie I hoped it would have been. The Alaskan scenery and dark ambiance of the movie was very nice, though, and the baraka-esque quality to the vampires was a nice touch, but this alone didn't save this movie from being what it is, yet another substanceless film. I don't know, I expected so much more from this movie, and it just completely failed to amuse me.
__________________
"Since you said goodbye polka dots filled my eyes...and I don't know why."
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10-24-2007, 04:42 PM
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#14
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Canada, BC
Posts: 1,949
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I liked it, though I'm not a big fan of vampires just being blood thirsty monsters, never the less it was refreshing. They were still kind of hot though, maybe I just have weird tastes.
__________________
Better to be strong than pretty and useless
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10-24-2007, 09:27 PM
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#15
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 360
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Is it just me, or was there a vampire in the movie that looked awfully similar to Marilyn Manson (in his early years)?
__________________
"Since you said goodbye polka dots filled my eyes...and I don't know why."
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10-25-2007, 12:01 PM
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#16
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Near Southampton
Posts: 1,319
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by spoon!
It's almost as though Steve Niles had written about werewolves than vampires.
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In one of it's earliest forms the word for Vampire was the same for werewolf. 
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10-25-2007, 12:08 PM
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#17
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,041
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So basically it isn't worth watching?
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10-25-2007, 07:16 PM
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#18
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 390
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by BlackRose
So basically it isn't worth watching?
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If I had more than two hands, I'd enthusiastically give it as many thumbs up as I could.
Definitely worth whatever ticket prices are
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10-26-2007, 03:25 PM
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#19
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 601
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Graveyard.Crow
I liked it, though I'm not a big fan of vampires just being blood thirsty monsters, never the less it was refreshing. They were still kind of hot though, maybe I just have weird tastes.
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And I thought I had weird taste in men.
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10-26-2007, 05:44 PM
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#20
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Bard College
Posts: 256
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No, I thought that one of them, the tall, dark one with the long-ish black hair, looked like my boyfriend...minus the whole blood-covered jaws bit...whom I found incredibly attractive.
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10-27-2007, 02:32 PM
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#21
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Harlem
Posts: 6,909
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I haven't seen it. Nothing can redeem the vampire in my opinion. Underworld completely killed it.
__________________
No Gods. No Kings.
Not all beliefs and ideas are equal.
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10-27-2007, 04:01 PM
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#22
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,687
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by KontanKarite
I haven't seen it. Nothing can redeem the vampire in my opinion. Underworld completely killed it.
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... so I guess Tomorrow Never Dies killed Bond and You've Got Mail killed Boy-Meets-Girl?
Everything's been done badly, with that philosophy it's a wonder you go see movies.
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10-27-2007, 05:44 PM
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#23
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Harlem
Posts: 6,909
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I actually don't go to the movies that much. The last movie I saw in a theater was Pan's Labyrinth. It, was good.
MirrorMask wasn't in any theater close to me, so it makes one wonder about cinema.
__________________
No Gods. No Kings.
Not all beliefs and ideas are equal.
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10-29-2007, 10:47 AM
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#24
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Temple of Love
Posts: 1,641
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by gothicusmaximus
... so I guess Tomorrow Never Dies killed Bond and You've Got Mail killed Boy-Meets-Girl?
Everything's been done badly, with that philosophy it's a wonder you go see movies.
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I love how every post you reply to is greated with the same sort of tone and reaction that your face expresses in your avatar.
__________________
NyQuil the stuffy, sneezy, why-the-heck-is-the-room-spinning medicine
Kontan - "Eventually, you ended up looking like the freaking grim reaper towards the end of the game.
Now we got this cracked out jungle hobo...."
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11-01-2007, 11:23 AM
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#25
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: london england
Posts: 4
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i think thats harsh i liked under world true vamps are suppost to be more predorty an stuff but still i liked the films an i wanna watch 40 days of nite my sis said it was to weird to get into tho
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